DJs: Most Charted - Deep House - May 2011

Review: Norm Talley's "The Journey" is somewhat of a modern day Detroit classic. A secret weapon of many, it's been a staple within record bags since its first release in May 2009. Scott Grooves is one of those, and in true Grooves style, he's done an edit of it. The difference with "The Journey" though, is that this the first of his countless edits he's actually released to the record buying public. "Panther Remix" is an endearingly low slung, subtle take on Norm's original made by Grooves and Kataconda. Rolling percussion and progressing chords envelope from the offset, and get increasingly endearing as the track chugs along. "Panther" is irresistibly mellow whilst retaining its Detroit house appeal. Flipping over, the Scott Grooves Beats version focuses on the hollow beat of the percussion, honing in on a breathtakingly simple loop.

Review: Vibrations keep it Sly & The Family stone for their third release with Bobby Soft Rocks breaking free to form the Asian Project alongside Bah Samba's Julian Bendall. Ploughing a similar pressurised house flex to the inaugural release from Mark E, "Kajdhani Express" adds some touches of Eastern delight into the mix, with soft flourishes of sitar and exotic melodies expertly riding the dusted house groove. This is a gentle precursor to the classic deep house strains of the title track "Distant Love" which bristles with delightful orchestral flourishes and rich melodic textures - it's the sort of track that urges us to call it quits and retire to the park with a portable turntable and some beers! DC natives Project U remix the track and turn it into a pan continental house bump more suited for the late night hours.

Review: Mathematics continues their fine run in 2011 with a slice of acid house history from the legendary Adonis. All the way back in 1988, Adonis teamed up with Charles B and dropped "Lack Of Love". It's presented here by Jamal Moss's label in a new "Summer Of Love 88 - Extended Replay" version that retains all the delightful and unpredictably raw rhythms that duck between heavy 303 usage and tub thumping gospel leads. You have to marvel at the chaotic epicness of a track which is over twenty years old and probably produced on the most primitive of hardware. On the flip Mathematics mainstay Steve Poindexter drops an equally demented remix of Adonis' 1989 jacker "Reck The Joint" that double dares you to dance.